North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>]

Jim Elie wrote, "I have been curious to tap a few silver maples in the yard. 
Have you
checked out St Lawrence Nursery's "Sweet Sap" silver maple.  The claim is
that it has a higher percent of sugar than the sugar maple syrup.  The
silver maple is such a vigorous grower."

   Jim,
   I know of a Sugar Maple that yields really a high sugar content in its 
sap but it yields proportionately less of a volume of sap.  That is 
frequently the case but not always.  At a former home of mine, one of my Red 
Maples yielded a normal quantity of 9.2 sugar in its sap.  That tree grew 
adjacent to my septic tank and, while it was probably safe (to eat) sap, I 
never did use it for the thought of it.
   I know of a HUGE Silver Maple with a high sugar content sap that I can't 
tap because it doesn't flow until after bud-swell when the sap becomes 
unpalatable.  That is a common problem with freaks of nature; there is 
frequently something else wrong with them besides the obvious traits.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]